Happy New Year and Welcome 2008! It is always wonderful to say goodbye to
one year and welcome the new year with hope and happiness. We had a
snow-covered Yule and received some unexpected gifts. As 2008, arrives and
Imbolc quickly follows, we're ready for a bright year where we can greet the sun
again and celebrate the maiden aspect of our earth and Goddesses. Below
you will find some nice gifts such as a 2008, forecast from Willow, information
about our upcoming Sabbat, and a desktop background from Glen. Be on the
look out for new products coming in 2008, as we will be busy for the next few
months filling product requests from wonderful friends, such as you.
To make the Holiday Season a bit warmer, Glen and I took a couple of days off to
work on this little project. We hope you enjoy!...
Congratulations to our Win a Free
Altar Cloth
contest winner!Thank you to all
who participated in the contest.There
will be 8 contests per year, one for each holiday of the Wiccan calendar.Our next contest is for 2 free
Hand painted Candle Holder a $19.96 value!This
contest ends the day after Imbolc, February 3.Don’t pass up your chance to win!Remember, you must check back at http://.goldentreewands.com/
after February 3, to see if you are our winner and claim your prize.Go to http://.goldentreewands.com/contest.htm
to enter.
Imbolg AKA Imbolc, Oimelc/g, Candlemas, Brigantia, Lupercus, and Disting, which
is celebrated on February 2nd was not originally a Sabbat. It was just a special
day to celebrate the Goddess turning the Wheel of the Year back to spring. The
Goddess honored at this time is Brighid of Ireland, Venus of Roman Culture,
Diana of Greek culture, and St. Blaize of France. Venus is the Goddess of Love,
Diana and Brighid are the Virgin Bride awaiting her young Sun God, and Blaize
the Saint of Winter Protection and Healing. This is the time when the Crone
phase of the Goddess is ending and the Maiden phase begins. To read more
about Imbolc, please visit our Pagan and Wiccan forums at:
http://goldentreewands.com/forums/index.php
Enjoy a free desktop background for winter from Glen Goldentree, author and
artist of The Many Moons of Astra!
Water is strongest, but
exhibits energy in all elements but fire
Other magical properties:
This wood contains a very
powerful, and often strange, energy. Though it is overall positive,
it is a wood highly influenced by luck and the energies which surround
it. The results may be unpredictable, though usually not dangerous
(unlike African Padauk).
The wood is highly in tune with
the planet Mars. Mars brings both strife and war, or the energy to
overcome these things. In this case, the energy is very tied up with
life energy as well, possibly indicating that the wood could be used to
influence health issues, both spiritual and physical.
Water energy is the strongest
elemental force within this wood, and with it the cyclical energy of the
moon. Water brings a peaceful energy, a stillness. This energy
will be strongest on the full moon, and nearly nonexistent during a new
moon.
The most interesting aspect of
this wood is the prevalence of the planet Saturn. Saturn blocks
Venus and the element of Fire in this wood's energy, keeping creative
thought, desires, and ambitions at a minimum. This would be highly
useful for meditation, though may be a hindrance in other endeavors.
STONE-OF-THE-SABBAT:
Carnelian
Gender Association:
Masculine
Planetary Association:
Sun
Elemental Association:
Fire
Other magical properties:
A stone with a wide variety
of uses, the carnelian has been used in magic for centuries
untold. This stone has a very healing energy about it, very
protective. It can be placed in the home as a protective charm,
and was said to keep away evil enchantments. In healing, the stone
is said to be particularly potent when dealing with blood-related
problems.
This stone is often used as a
means of decreasing social anxiety. A shy person may find use in
this stone with overcoming their shyness. Someone who is often
frustrated with others will find that this stone relaxes them and gives
them patience.
A spiritual stone, carnelian
is also very useful in scrying and astral projection.
A premade Ritual Robe, ready for shipment!
Click here to view more details
about this robe.
We have added a new feature to Goldentree Wands, that we think will help remove
any questions about where your order might be and when it will be shipped.
Our Order Status page was designed to keep you up to date on your
order status. Although we are in constant contact through email, this
allows you to check your status without having to check your email! We
have also updated our FAQ page with new questions that we have
been asked. More than likely you will find the answers to your burning
questions on this page. Willow is again offering
Tarot and
Witchstone Readings by donation for the New
Year. What does your future hold?
As a New Years gift for you, I have drawn a single
card for every month of 2008, using my Power Animal Oracle Card
Deck. I hope that you can find knowledge and help in knowing a
tiny bit of information about what this year might bring.
General 2008
Bear: Boundaries - STAND your ground
January
Owl: Omens - Pay attention to SIGNS
February
Otter: Surrender - LET GO of control
March
Opossum: Strategy - Have a BACK-UP PLAN
April
Eagle: Spirit - TRUST in your higher self
May
Dragonfly: Illusion - YOU KNOW who you
really are
June
Squirrel: Preparation - Get ready for BIG
CHANGES
July
Snake: Healing - You are a HEALER
August
Seal: Imagination - IMMERSE YOURSELF in
artistic and creative expression
September
Salmon: Determination - You know where you
are going and YOU WILL GET THERE
October
Raven: Magic - OWN your power
November
Raccoon: Resourcefulness - You have all
the RESOURCES you need
Mix all ingredients in your Mortar and Pestle and burn on a charcoal disk to
celebrate Imbolc and encourage the sun to join us once again. To add an
extra special touch to your Imbolc Incense, add the first flower of the year
picked on Imbolc. All above ingredients and charcoal, with the exception
of your personally picked flower, can be purchased from
Willow's Herb Cellar.
CHICKEN WITH SPICY
PEANUT SAUCE
According to Scott Cunningham, in his book Wicca in
the Kitchen, spicy and hot foods are good to serve on Imbolc. Here is
one of our favorite recipes:
from: Lauri's Low-Carb Cookbook
1 roasted chicken, de-boned
1 Tbsp oil, peanut or sesame
2 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chili powder, optional
3 Tbsp peanut butter, chunky
3 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp soy sauce (we call it shoyu in Hawai'i )
1 tsp lime or lemon juice
1 packet Sweet 'n Low (r) sweetener (Now sweet
'n low has aspartame which is a very unhealthy sugar. So instead, I used a
spoonful of white sugar. I think that made it taste much better too, although
sugar has a lot of carbs- we're much healthier going this route)
salt and pepper, to taste
1. Cut chicken meat into bite sized pieces.
2. Heat oil on medium heat in skillet. Sauté scallions, garlic and chili powder
for 1 minute. Remove from skillet (leaving as much oil as possible.)
3. Turn up heat and brown chicken pieces until approximately half cooked. Remove
from skillet.
4. Turn heat down to medium. Add peanut butter, water, soy sauce, lime juice and
sweetener. Mix well. Add more water if sauce is too thick. Add salt & pepper to
taste.
5. Add chicken, scallions and garlic back to skillet. Stir to coat chicken. Cook
on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Serve.
NOTE FROM WILLOW: The instructions say to remove things from the skillet at
various times. I just left it all in the skillet without removing anything. It
enables the flavors to mix better, and to me, flavor is everything no matter
what type of meal you're trying to serve. So save yourself some time and keep it
all in one skillet.
Makes 3 servings:
Carbs - 6.5 grams
Calories - 230.2
Fat - 14.9 grams
Protein - 19.1 grams
